Improvement in folding chairs



UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

FR-EDERIO TV. RICHARDSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING CHA|RS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No- 146,9 19, dated January 27, 1874; application filed July 7, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERIC W. R1011- ARDSON, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Folding Chair; and that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making apart of this specification.

This invention is in the nature of an improvement in folding chairs; and the invenlion consists of a folding chair having the front legs pivoted to the rear legs, and folding independently of the back or rear legs, and the back of said chair retained at a given angle by means of a spring-pawl operated by a cam or lever, substantially in the manner hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my chair, and Fig. 2 a front view of same.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

A represents a folding chair, the uprights of the back B of which are hinged to the back legs 0, so that said back may be set to any desired angle. Pivoted to the upright of the back B are the arms D, and to these arms 1) are pivoted supports E of the same, the supports being pivoted to the extremities of the arms and the prolongations of the back legs, as shown in Fig. 1. To the upright of the back B, at the point where the arm D is secured to it, is a metallic plate, 1), into the edge of which is formed a series of notches, c, and to the under side of the arm D is aiiixed a spring, 0, one end of this spring being secured to the arm, and the other end being bent slightly at right angles; and to the inner side of the arm is secured a small lever or cam, f.

To the back legs are'secured, by screws, pivotal bolts, or otherwise, the front legs F. These legs, it will be seen, move independently of the back of the chair, so that they may be readily folded back when it is desired the chair should occupy a smaller space than when opened for use. Extending from one front leg to the other is a cross-bar or cleat, g, which not only strengthens and stiffens the legs, but it also acts as a support for the seat- G or prolongations of the rear legs.

My chair being constructed substantially as above described, its operation is as follows: In order to adjust the back B to any desired angle, it is simply necessary to press down the cam or lever f, which will in turn bear upon the spring 0 until the edge of said spring is forced out of the notches c in the metallic plate I), when the back may be readily moved forward or backward to the desired angle, and, the lever or cam f being relieved from pressure, the spring 0, by its own elasticity, will enter into the notches of the plate I) and retain the back in any given position.

The chair, when not in use, may be made to occupy a small space by folding the back backward as far as its construction will allow, and then folding the front legs to the rear in a position parallel to the prolongations of the rear legs.

The whole construction and arrangement of my chair is simple, compact, and strong, besides aitordin g a serviceable reclining-chair at a moderate cost.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A folding chair constructed with the front legs pivoted to the rear legs, and folding independently of the back or rear legs, and the back of said chair retained at a given angle by means of a spring-pawl operated by a cam or lever, substantially in the manner hereinbefore described.

F. W. RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

H. L. VVATTENBERG, G. M. PLYMPTON. 

